UPDATE: Danvers Police fatally shoot suspect in assault

The Essex County District Attorney’s office will investigate the fatal shooting of Scott Kehoe, 37, of 5113 Kirkbride Drive, Danvers by Danvers Police on Thursday night.

By Jeff Pope/Wicked Local Danvers

Wicked Local

By Jeff Pope/Wicked Local Danvers

Posted Aug. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 23, 2013 at 11:15 PM

By Jeff Pope/Wicked Local Danvers

Posted Aug. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 23, 2013 at 11:15 PM

Danvers

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The Essex County District Attorney’s office will investigate the fatal shooting of Scott Kehoe, 37, of 5113 Kirkbride Drive, Danvers by Danvers Police on Thursday night.

District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said the review would be “full and impartial” and “a standard procedure for the use of fatal force in Essex County,” according to a press release from his office.

“The community can count on a thorough investigation by our office,” Blodgett said. “In all cases of use of fatal force, transparency is critical. As we have in prior investigations of police-involved shootings, community stakeholders and members of the media will have the opportunity to review our written findings when the probe is complete.”

While investigating the report of an assault and attempting to serve existing trial court warrants, five Danvers Police officers and one Massachusetts State Police trooper were confronted by Kehoe, who was armed with a knife, according to police.

According to the DA’s office, as Kehoe approached officers, he made repeated attempts to stab the officers. Officers repeatedly instructed Kehoe to drop the knife; however, Kehoe eluded capture and lunged toward an officer, police said. At this point, officers shot Kehoe.

Danvers Police officers, assisted by Danvers Firefighters, immediately provided medical treatment. He was transported to Beverly Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy.

An earlier press release from Danvers Police Chief Neil Ouellette said that officers responded to the report of an assault at the 5000 block of Kirkbride Drive, which is located at the top of Hathorne Hill where the former state hospital was located, at 9:52 p.m. Thursday night

Officers investigating the assault found that a robbery had occurred. While attempting to place the suspect into custody for the robbery, as well as for outstanding court warrant charges, an officer shot the suspect.

The victim of the original assault is expected to be OK, police said.

Residents in the area should be assured that there is no risk to their safety and the initial assault was not a random event, according to the release from Chief Ouellette.